Research
We excel in research, education and patient care, with faculty specializing in cancer of specific organ sites to lead innovative treatment.
Research Overview
We are nationally recognized for its robust basic, translational and clinical research programs, with funding support from the National Institutes of Health and other major granting agencies. Our faculty lead high-impact studies that inform surgical practice, improve patient outcomes and shape the future of oncology care.
Research initiatives span a wide range of cancer types and scientific approaches, including:
- Pancreatic cancer: Irreversible electroporation for locally advanced disease
- Gastroesophageal cancer: Chemopreventive agents and oxidative stress mechanisms
- Hepatocellular carcinoma: Alcohol-mediated carcinogenesis studies
- Breast cancer: Molecular markers for treatment response, stress biology, sentinel node biopsy agents, nipple aspirate diagnostics and tailored therapy strategies
- Thyroid and endocrine cancers: Estrogen’s role in proliferation, ethnic disparities and nanoparticle applications
- Melanoma: Genetic studies, molecular staging and lymphangiogenesis
- GI and lung cancers: Patient decision-making research and molecular profiling
- Innovative therapeutics: Adenovirus-mediated oncolytic therapy, adenoviral vector development and islet cell enzyme optimization
We also maintain large prospective databases across disease sites—HPB, gastric and esophageal, sarcoma, breast, endocrine and melanoma—enabling long-term outcomes research and translational discovery.
We have led more than 75 clinical trials with more than 14,000 patients enrolled, including national multicenter studies, solidifying our role as leaders in academic surgical oncology research.